Sheet-feeding mechanism for rotary printing machines



SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. 19, 1925 Nov. 16, 1926.

C. F. GREEN SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES FiledJan- 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES FREDERICK GREEN, OF ROMFORD, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO A. B. DICKCOH- PANY. F GHICAGQ, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SHEET-FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING MAGHINE8. I

Application filed January 19, 1925, Serial No. 3,218, and in GreatBritain February 28, 1924.

The present invention relates to sheet feeding mechanism for rotaryprinting machines. It is applicable to the type of mach ne whichcomprises a printing cylinder upon which is secured a circular groovedform in which the type characters are held, the sheets of paper beingfed successively between an impression roller and the cylinder forprinting, provision being made whereby l the impression roller can bemoved in or out of contact with the cylinder. The rint-' ing is effectedby means of a broad inked ribbon stretched over the type faces, or bymeans of inking rollers, one or more of the rollers revolving in contactwith the type.

The invention is also applicable to rotary duplicating machines in whicha stencil is carried on a cylinder, the paper being fed between thecylinder and a rubber impression roller.

The present invention has for one of its ob ects to provide simplemechanism for ensuring accurate sheet feeding to rotary rinting machinesof these ty cs. ]ects of this invention will, e in partgobvious and inpart pointed out hereinafter.

The invention contemplates sheet feeding mechanism wherein a shee ofpaper is introduced either by hand 01 by an automatic 80 feeding devicebetween a'pair of rotating feed rollers which carry the sheet against afence or stop, the said fence being subsequently actuated by mechanismwhich moves it out of the path of the sheet, thus releasing the sheet sothat the feed rollers carry it forward between the impression roller andthe printing cylinder.

The feed rollers are rotated by suitable gearing to the printingcylinder so arranged that the periphery speed of the feed rollers ispeferably the same as that of the printing cylinder, and the rollershaving just sufiicient pressure between them to feed the sheets of paperfree, but light enough to slide over the sheets when the front edges ofthe sheets are broughtup against'the fence or stop.

The fence or stop is actuated by a cam ca rried on the printingcylinder, the cam being rotatively adjustable on the bylinder enablinthe sheet to be released at any desired time in relation to the rotationof the cylinder, thus enabling the sheet to be printed through while thesheets are.

with the top line of printing at any desired distance from the top edgeof the sheet of paper.

In order that a clearer understanding of my invention may be had,attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings forming partof this application and illustrating. one possible embodiment of myinvention. In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of oneform of a rotary type duplicating machine to which the sheet feedingmechanism has been applied, the view showing the parts intheirinoperative position, i. e., with the fence opposing the passage of asheet of paper through the feed rollers- Fig. 2 is a similar view toFig. 1, but with the fence in the position for a sheet to be fed intothe machine; Fig. 3 is a frontview of the machine; and Fig. 4 is adetail sectional view of the sheet feed rollers and the fence or stop.Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 10 is the type form support commonly calledthe printing cylinder to which the printing form is secured in any wellknown manner, the .sup port 16 being secured to discs 11 mounted on thesh'aft 12 carried between the frames 13 of the machine. The frames 13are bored out and have fitted therein the ends of a shaftj14 to whichare secured brackets 15 formed with open bearings 9 in which rest theends of the spindle of the impression roller 16. Theshaft 14 protrudesthrough the frame 13 and has secured thereto one end of an arm 17, thefree end of which carries a stud 18 which is adapted to be engaged bythe end of a pivoted hand lever 19,

whereby lever 17 may be lowered or released. The impression roller 16has secured to it at one end a gear 20 which engages with a spur wheel21 formed integral with one of the discs 11.

The sheet feeding mechanism as applied to this type of machine isconstructed and operates as follows Fitted on the shaft 12 is a cam 22,the position of which can be adjusted relatively to the printingcylinder and held in position by means of an arm 23 carrying a set screw24 which is engageable with the surface of the disc 11 to lock the camin its adjusted posibringing main gear tion. The surface 22' of the camdepresses a roller 25 secured to a slide 26 housed in a. slot formed ina stud 27 secured to one of the frames 13 of the machine, the other endof the slide being connected to a short lever 28 secured to a rockingshaft 29 pivoted between the frames 13, the said lever being fashionedwith a spur 30 to which one end of a spring 31 is secured, the other endof the s ring being secured over a pin 31' secure to the frame 13. Tothe shaft 29 are secured a number of upstanding plates 32. These platesare so shaped that they form a vertical stop extending a little above, alittle below, and a little behind the points of contact of a pair offeed rollers.

The lower feed roller 33 comprises a number of narrow rollers, a littledistance apart from each other on a shaft which is journaled in theframes 13.

To the shaft of the roller 33 is secured a gear 34 which gear mesheswith a gear 35 fitted in a projection of the bracket 15, the latter gearalso being in engagement with the gear 20 of the impression roller 16.

The upper "feed roller 36 is fashioned in a manner similar to the feedroller 33, but its shaft is carried in hearings in arms 37 pivoted tothe side frames 13, and the arms are preferably counterbalanced so thatonly a light pressure between the feed rollers is obtained.

The said roller also has fitted to it a gear 38 which meshes with thegear 34 of roller 33.

It will be seen that when the handle 19 is depressed, as in Fig. 1, ifthe operating handle 39 is turned with a counterclockwise motion, sheetsof paper, if fed between the rollers 33 and 36, will fail to feed intothe machine for the reason that the gear 20 of the impression roller 16is out of mesh with the main gear 21 since the movement of hand lever 19to the position shown causes the spring 41 secured to the bracket 15 topull the impression roller 16 away from contact with the printing formsecured to the segment 10, and the feed rollers 33 and 36 fail torotate, although the cam 22 actuates the fence or stop 32 through theslide 26.

It will thus be seen that the paper feed rollers 33 and 36 will notrevolve to feed paper into the machine unless the impression roller gear20 is in engagement with the main gear 21. This is etfected by elevatinghandle 19, and placing the parts in the plosition shown in Fig. 2.

W ile the machine is in the position shown in Fig. 1, a pile of sheetsto be rinted is placed upon the feed board 40. T e machine is then madeready for printing by the parts into the position shown in 2., That isto say, the hand lever 19 is a orded an upward movement which pulls thegear 20 into engagement with the 21 by movement of arm 17 and bracket 15against the action of sprin 41. Thus gears 21, 20, 35, 34 and 38 are alin engagement.

A sheet of paper from the pile is now pushed up to the feed rollers 33and 36. Movement of the handle 39 causes the sheet to be advanced by thefeed rollers against the fence or stop 32 which at the commencement ofoperating the machine is in the positon shown in Fig. 1, the sheet beingretained by the stop although the rollers 33 and 36 continue to rotate.When the machine is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 2, the surface22' of cam 22 acts on the roller 25, causing slide 26 to be depressedand with it the lever 28, so that bar 29 turns and causes the upstandingplates 32 forming the stop or fence to move awa from the fed rollers 33and 36 so releasing the sheet of paper which passes on between theimpression roller 16 and the printing form secured to the segment 10.()n continuing the rotation of the machine, after the sheet has passedthrough the feed rollers 33 and 36, the stop or fence formed by theplates 32 will be returned to position near the points of contact offeed rollers 33 and 36 when the cam surface 22 moves clear of theroller25 under the action of the spring 31. Thus sheets may be fed insuccession up to the rollers 33 and 36 and will be introduced betweenthe printing surface and the impression roller 16 at the correct moment.l

The cam 22 can be adjusted in relation to the form by means of the screw24, thus enabling the sheet to be printed to be fed for printing at anydesired time so that the top line of printing may appear at any desireddistance from the top edge of the sheet of paper.

In some other forms of rotary type duplicating machines movement of theimpression roller to its out of operation position is effected withoutentirely disengaging the gear thereon with the cylinder gear and thepresent invention can be applied to such machines by modifying the trainof gearing.

It is to be understood that although the sheet feeding mechanism hasbeen described and illustrated as applied to a type printing machine, itcan also be fitted to duplicating machines wherein printing is effectedthrough a stencil sheet supported on a perforated segment.

Furthermore, the method of mounting the feed rollers and the upstandingplates forming the stop or fence may be modified to suit typeduplicating machines differing in construction from the machine underreview.

Accordingly, as many changes could be made in the above construction andmany ed that all matter contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

What I claim is 1. In a rotary printing machine, the combination with aprinting cylinder and a coacting impression roller, of means, includinga pair of opposed feed rollers continuously rotatable in contact with aninterosed nut when the machine is being turned, or feeding the sheetinto feeding engagement between the cylinder and impression roller,means, including a stop or fence movable into the path of the sheet, forarresting the feeding of the sheet by said rollers, and means forremoving the stop or fence from the path of the sheet at a predeterminedtime during the turning of the cylinder, so allowing the sheet to be fedforward by the said feed rollers for printing at a definite position ofthe printing cylin- 2. In a rotary printing machine, thecombinationwwith a printing cylinder and a coacting impression roller,of means, including a pair of opposed feed rollers continuouslyrotatable in contact with an interposed sheet when the machine isbeing-turned, for feeding the sheet into feeding engagement between thecylinder and impression roller, means, including a stop or fence movableinto the path of'the sheet, for arresting the feeding of the sheet bysaid rollers, and means for removing the stop or fence from the path ofthe sheet, so allowing the sheet to be fed forward by the said feedrollers for printing at a definite position 0; the printing cylinder,said feed rollers being fashioned with a plurality-of contact surfaces,a gear on each roller, said gears meshing with each other, a gear on theprinting cylinder, and a drive connection between the cylinder gear andone of said roller gears.

3. In a rotary printing machine, the combination with a printingcylinder and a coacting impression roller, of means, including a pair ofopposed feed rollers continuously rotatable in contact with aninterposed sheet when the machine is being turned, for feeding the sheetinto feeding engagem'eiit'between the cylinder and impression roller,means, including a stop or fence movable into the ath of the sheet,for-arresting the feeding of the sheet by said rollers, and means forremoving the stop or fence from the path of the sheet, so allowing thesheet to be fed forward by the said feed rollers for printing at adefinite position of the rinting cylinder, said feed rollers beingfashioned with a plurality of contact surfaces, a gear on each roller,said gears meshing with each other, a gear on the printing c linder, anda drive connection between t e cylinder gear and one of said rollerposed sheet when the machine is being turned, for feeding the sheet intofeeding engagement between the cylinder and impression roller, means,including a stop or fence movable into the path of the sheet, forarresting the feeding of the sheet by said rollers, and means forremoving the stop or fence from the path of the sheet, so allowing thesheet to be fed forward by the said feed rollers for printin at adefinite position of the printing cy inder, said feed rollers beingfashioned with a plurality of contact surfaces, a' gear on each roller,said gears meshing with each other, a gear on the printing cylinder, anda drive connection between the cylinder gear and one of said rollergears, said stop or fence consisting of a series of upstanding platesscoured to a shaft and projecting between the divisions of the feedrollers behind the points of contact in intercepting position across thepath of sheets fed by the feed rollers, said stop or fence removingmeans including a cam on the printing cylinder coacting with a slideconnected with the shaft supporting the upstanding plates of the stop orfence.

5. In a rotary printing machine, the combination with a printingcylinder and a coacting impression roller, of means, including a pair ofopposed feed rollers continuously. rotatable in contact with aninterposed sheet when the machine is being turned, for feeding the sheetinto feeding engagement between the cylinder and imression roller,means, includin a stop or ence movable into the path 0 the sheet, forarresting the feeding of the sheet by said rollers, and means forremoving the stop or fence from the path of the sheet, so allowing thesheet to be fed forward by the said feed rollers for printing at adefinite position of the printing cylinder, said feed rollers beingfashioned with a plurality of contact surfaces, a gear on each roller,said gears meshing with each other, a gear on the printing cylinder, andadrive connection between the cylinder gear and one of said rollergears, said stop or fence consisting of a series of upstanding platessecured to a shaft and projecting between the divisions of the feedrollers behind the points of contact in intercepting position across thepath of sheets fed by the feed rollers, said stop or fence removingmeans including a cam on the printing cylinder coacting with a slideconnected with the shaft supporting the upstanding plates of the stop orfence, the said cam being adjustable on the printing cylinder.

6. In a rotary printing machine, the combination with a printingcylinder and a coacting impression roller, of means, including a pair ofopposed feed rollers continuously rotatable in contact with aninterposed sheet when the machine is being turned, for feeding the sheetinto feeding engagement between the cylinder and impression roller,means, including a stop or fence movable into the path of the sheet, forarresting the feeding of the sheet by said rollers, means for removingthe stop or fence from the path'of the sheet, so allowing the sheet tobe fed forward by said feed rollers for printing at a definite positionof the printmg cylinder, and a driving connection between saidimpression roller and said feed rollers, whereby said rollers are drivenfrom said cylinder.

7. In a rotary printing machine. the combination with a printingcylinder and a coacting impression roller, of means, including a. pairof opposed feed rollers continuously rotatable in contact with aninterposed sheet when the machine is being turned, for feeding the sheetinto feeding engagement between the cylinder and impression roller,means, including a stop or fence movable into the path of the'sheet, forarresting the feeding of the sheet by said rollers, means for removingthe stop or fence from the path of the sheet, so allowing the sheet tobe fed forward by said feed rollers for printing at a definite positionof the printing cylinder, and a driving connection between saidimpression roller and said feed rollers, whereby said rollers are drivenfrom said cylinder, said impression roller being manually adjustableinto and out of driven engagement with said cylinder, whereby said feedrollers may be rendered operative and inoperative at will.

This specification signed this 8th day of J an., 1925.

CHARLES FREDERICK GREEN.

rollers, said stop or fence removing means including a cam on theprinting c linder coacting with a slide connected with the shaftsupporting the upstanding plates of the stop or fence, the said cambeing adjustable on the printing cylinder.

6. In a rotary printing machine, the combination with a printingcylinder and a eoacting impression roller, of means, including a pair ofopposed feed rollers continuously rotatable in contact with aninterposed sheet when the machine is being turned, for feeding the sheetinto feeding engagement between the cylinder and impression roller,means, including a stop or fence movable into the path of the sheet, forarresting the feeding of the sheet by said rollers, means for removingthe stop or fence from the path of the sheet, so allowing the sheet tobe fed forward by said feed rollers for rinting at a definite positionof the printing cylinder, and a driving connection between saidimpression roller and said feed rollers, whereby said rollers are drivenfrom said cylinder.

7. In a rotary printing machine. the combination with a printingcylinder and a coacting impression roller, of means, including a pair ofopposed feed rollers continuously rotatable in contact with aninterposed sheet when the machine is being turned, for feeding the sheetinto feeding engagement between the cylinder and impression roller,means, including a stop or fence movable into the path of the sheet, forarresting the feeding of the sheet by said rollers, means for removingthe stop or fence from the path of the sheet, so allowing the sheet tobe fed forward by said feed rollers for printing at a definite positionof the printing cylinder, and a driving connection between saidimpression roller and said feed rollers, whereby said rollers are drivenfrom said cylinder, said impression roller being manually adjustableinto and out of driven engagement with said cylinder, whereby said feedrollers may be rendered operative and inoperative at will.

This specification signed this 8th day of Jan, 1925.

CHARLES FREDERICK GREEN.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,607,396, grantedNovember 16, 1926, upon the application of Charles Frederick GreenfiofRomford, England, for

an improvement in Sheet-Feeding Mechanisms for otary Printing Machines,

errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction asfollows: Page 2,

' line 84, for the word fed read feed; page 3,

Patent should be read with these corrections read sheet; and that thesaid Letters line 11, claim 1, for the word nut therein that the samemay conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of December,

M. J. MOORE, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,607,396. grantedNovember 16, 1926, upon the application of Charles Frederick Green, ofRomford, England, for an improvement in Sheet-Feeding Mechanisms forRotary Printing Machines, errors appear in the printed specificationrequiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 84, for the word fed readfeed; page 3, line 11, claim 1, for the word nut read sheet; and thatthe said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections thereinthat the same may conform to the record of the case in the PatentOfiice.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of December, A. D. 1926.

[m] M. J. MOORE,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

